The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) responded on Tuesday to the federal government’s grounding of Arik Air’s fleet.
This reaction came after the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, ordered the suspension of Arik Air’s operations due to an unresolved debt of $2.5 million.
The directive, which stems from an enforcement order by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, has led to the immediate cessation of Arik Air’s services until further notice.
In response to the suspension, FAAN has announced efforts to rebook and transfer passengers scheduled to travel with Arik Air to other airlines. FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiagelo Orah, assured the public that the authority is coordinating with other agencies to support affected passengers.
A statement from FAAN reads: “The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is aware of the grounding of Arik Airline due to litigation issues between the airline and their creditors. The Authority has instructed all airport managers across the country to assist affected passengers as Arik Airline works out plans to rebook and transfer them to other available flights.”